Short Stories

1. Short Stories Fairbloom, Blyth

2. What is a short story? • A short story is a piece of fiction which can be read at one sitting. • Like a novel it uses character, conflict, theme, setting, and pointofview/ narration to create an impression on the reader. • In a short story every word counts, so it creates restrictions for the author.

3. Plot Graph

4. Short Stories • The plot of the story might be streamlined – only one major event may be explored. • The rising action of the plot and climax might come to a head quite quickly; it may even occur in the last few paragraphs or the last few lines. • Plot: The events in a story that make up the action. The plot in a story usually has five elements: the exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the resolution.

5. Plot • The exposition sets up the story by introducing the main characters, the setting, and the problem to be solved. • The rising action is the main part of the story where the full problem develops. • A number of events will lead to the climax. • The climax: The highest point of the story where the most exciting events occur. • The falling action follows the climax. It contains the events that bring the story to the conclusion. • The resolution is the end of the story when all the problems are resolved.

6. The complicating incidents or obstacles to resolve conflict. Climax Point of highest tension. Introduces the character and setting Rising Action Falling Action The End! All the loose ends are tied up (ornot). Introduction In a short story, the plot moves quickly towards the denouement (conclusion). Resolution

7. Short Stories • Characters might not be as well developed and/or the number of characters is usually limited. • There may be one or two central themes that are developed. • The setting and atmosphere may be established very quickly at the beginning. • There is usually one major point-of-view/ type of narration.

8. Narration • The angle from which the story is told. There are many different points of view. • First person – one character tells the story in the first person. The reader sees and knows only as much as the narrator. Often an unreliable narrator and innocent character. • Third Person – an outsider narrator tells the story. • Omniscient – the author tells the story using the third person. Author knows all of what is done, said, felt, and thought by the characters. • Limited omniscient – author tell the story from the third person, but limits observations of thoughts and feelings to one character; the author presents the story from this character’s eyes. • Objective – the author is like a movie camera that moves around freely recording objects. However, the author offers no comments on the characters or their actions. Readers are not told the thoughts or feelings of the characters.

9. Conflict What are the five types of conflicts? Watch the video on the different types of conflict: http://www.mrquillen.com/conflict.html

10. Conflict • Person vs person • Person vs self • Person vs society • Person vs nature • Person vs supernatural

11. Theme • The theme is the meaning or the purpose of the story.

12. Confusing Terms • Tone – the attitude of the writer towards his/her subject. • The tone may be a comic tone, serious, critical, angry, sympathetic…. • Mood – the feeling the reader gets from the story. It is created through images, rhyme, rhythm, and other devices. • Ex. The mood of “The Simpsons” is humorous but the tone is critical.

13. Irony • Verbal Irony – Saying the opposite of what is meant. • This often reveals something about the character who makes the comments. • Dramatic Irony - The reader knows more about the situation than the character. • Daytime soaps use this device a great deal. • Ex. A character is talking about her loving boyfriend…who in reality is cheating on her with her best friend! She doesn't know about it, but you do. • Situational Irony – Events turn out differently than what was expected. • Ex. You don’t expect an Olympic swimmer to drown in his bathtub.

14. Other Literary Devices • Alliteration • The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in two or more consecutive or closely associated words • Ex: The Wicked Witch of the West went her own way.  The “W” sound is highlighted and repeated throughout the scene. • Allusion • A reference to a person or event in literature, mythology, or history assumed to be known to the reader. • Ex. Plan ahead: it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark” – Richard Cushing • Ambiguity • The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

15. Other Literary Devices • Analogy • Comparison that assumes that two objects or events that are alike in one respect will be alike in another. • Atmosphere • The mood established by events, places, or situations • Ex. ‘Tis better cold, and I am sick at heart” • Diction • Author’s choice of words • Euphemism • A gentler, more politically correct way of saying something that could be offensive or upsetting. • Ex. “Passed away” rather than “dead”

16. Other Literary Devices • Foil • A secondary character that contrasts and parallels the main character in the story. • Hyperbole • Exaggeration used not to deceive, but for humorous or dramatic effect. • Ex. I am so tired I cannot walk another inch. • Ex. I’m so sleepy I might fall asleep. • Ex. She nearly died laughing  • Imagery • The author uses words and phrases to create “mental images” for the reader. • Imagery helps the reader to visualize more realistically the author’s writings. • The term used to describe words or phrases that appeal to the five senses.

17. Other Literary Devices • Juxtaposition • Placing words or ideas side by side for contrast • Metaphor • An implied comparison between two unlike things (without using the words like or as). • Ex. He’s a dream. • Motif • Any element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature. • Using a motif refers to the repetition of a specific theme dominating the literary work. • Motifs are very noticeable and play a significant role in defining the nature of the story, the course of events and the very fabric of the literary piece. • Ex. In many famed fairytales, the motif of a ‘handsome prince’ falling in love with a ‘damsel in distress’ and the two being bothered by a wicked step mother, evil witch or beast and finally conquering all to live ‘happily ever after’ is a common motif.

18. Other Literary Devices • Onomatopoeia • Words whose very sound is very close to the sound they are meant to depict. • Words such as grunt, huff, buzz and snap are words whose pronunciation sounds very similar to the actual sounds these words represent. In literature such words are useful in creating a stronger mental image. For instance, sentences such as “the whispering of the forest trees” or “the hum of a thousand bees” or “the click of the door in the nighttime” create vivid mental images. • Oxymoron • The joining of two terms that would otherwise seem contradictory (i.e. death in life, loving hate, pleasing pains, jumbo shrimp, hells angels, an open secret, found missing, seriously funny) • Paradox • A paradox that seems on the face of it to be logically contradictory or absurd, yet turns out to be interpretable in a way that actually makes good sense • Ex. From car racing: one has to be slow to go fast

19. Other Literary Devices • Pathetic Fallacy • This occurs when events in the natural world imitate the inner state of a character or reflects the mood of a scene. • Ex. raining outside when there is sadness  • Personification • A literary device in which human qualities or actions are attributed to inanimate objects. • Ex. The dancing flowers • Simile • The practice of drawing parallels or comparisons between two unrelated and dissimilar things, people, beings, places and concepts. Similes are marked by the use of the words ‘as’ or ‘such as’ or ‘like’. • Ex. He is like a mouse in front of the teacher. • Ex. My pimple is as big as Mount Everest.

20. Other Literary Devices • Symbol • A symbol is literary device that contains several layers of meaning, often concealed at first sight, and is representative of several other aspects, concepts or traits than those that are visible in the literal translation alone. • A symbol is an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning. • Ex. The phrase “a new dawn” does not talk only about the actual beginning of a new day but also signifies a new start, a fresh chance to begin and the end of a previous tiring time  • Thesis • The writer’s argument or position • Tone • Writer’s attitude towards his subjects and/or audiences